Department of the Army Inspector General Inspection of the Army National Cemeteries Program and Arlington National Cemetery

---

Inspection Summary
Inspection of the
Army National Cemeteries Program and
Arlington National Cemetery

---

What We Did

From 2 May to 5 August 2011, the Department of the Army Inspector General (DAIG) conducted a re-inspection of the Army National Cemeteries Program (ANCP) and Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The re-inspection and this report served to assess and document compliance with, and the implementation and effect of, the approved recommendations of the DAIG's inspection report conducted on 9 June 2010. With a view to enabling the Secretary of the Army's report to Congress, as mandated by Public Law 111-339, dated 22 December 2010, the report also reflects findings and recommendations regarding the implementation of Army Directive (AD) 2010-04, dated 10 June 2010, and the review of ANC practices to provide information, outreach and support to families of individuals buried at ANC regarding procedures to detect and correct burial errors. The inspection team identified 31 observations, 2 other matters and made 53 recommendations.

What Found

• The ANCP and ANC staffs are implementing the recommendations from last year's inspection report. Significant progress has been made in all aspects of the Cemetery's performance, accountability and modemization.
• ANC and other Army agencies have executed their assigned tasks effectively, resulting in significant improvements at both Army National Cemeteries over the past 13 months and setting conditions for future success. Most critically, ANCP is on track to complete an accountability baseline for all gravesites and inurnment niches at ANC to support the Secretary's report to Congress on 22 December 2011.
• ANC's efforts to provide information, as well as, outreach and support to families regarding burial discrepancies were profeSSional and supportive.
• Wait times are increasing for all types of ANC interment I inurnment services except for Service members killed-in-action. Requests for burial at ANC also are increasing and, at the current rate, ANC will be required to expand its capability to conduct inground burials before 2035.

What We Recommend

The Secretary of the Army direct specified Headquarters, Department of the Army Staff elements and Army Field Operating Agencies to execute tasks intended to sustain and enhance the progress being made at ANC.

---

Access Full Department of the Army Inspector General Inspection of the Army National Cemeteries Program and Arlington National Cemetery [PDF 38.9 MB]